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Lawsuit targets Port of Rotterdam’s pace on cutting fossil fuels
A lawsuit says the Port of Rotterdam Authority has not moved fast enough to wind down coal, oil and gas flows, even as the port cluster emits about 29 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
Europe’s biggest freight hub, the Port of Rotterdam, is facing mounting pressure from an environmental lawsuit that argues the port is not doing enough to reduce dependence on fossil fuel companies. BBC Business reports that Advocates for the Future is challenging the Port of Rotterdam Authority’s actions and is seeking a concrete plan to phase out coal, oil and gas flows tied to emissions that the outlet says outweigh those of most countries. Research cited by BBC Business estimates fossil fuels passing through the port are ultimately linked to around 600 megatonnes of CO2 a year.
The port’s industrial cluster currently emits about 29 million tonnes of CO2 a year, roughly half of the Netherlands’ domestic emissions, according to Mark van Dijk, head of external relations at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, as quoted by BBC Business. The outlet also notes that Rotterdam processes crude oil at multiple refineries and that chemical plants in the cluster supply factories across the continent.
The Port Authority says it has a plan that includes cutting its own direct and purchased energy emissions by 90% between 2019 and 2030, and developing a hydrogen hub to test new fuels. BBC Business adds that the plan also calls for onshore power to let ships plug into the grid while berthed and support for alternative fuels, while the near-term focus includes carbon capture and storage via the Porthos project.
The environmental group argues that a port of Rotterdam’s scale should use its influence to accelerate the shift to cleaner operations, according to BBC Business. The outlet says van Dijk acknowledged the emissions concern while outlining current steps the authority says it is taking.
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